Why does beer carbonation seem different from soda carbonation?

Question

Why does beer carbonation seem different from soda carbonation?

In: 32

Answer 1

Head brewer at a place where we make beer and vodka sodas: Everyone’s science in the comments is true, but the ultimate reason carbonation is different between beer and sodas is because I put different amounts of CO2 in.

We do filtered lagers, so we neither keep nor monitor natural carbonation in the beer since it comes out with our filtration process, so both sodas and beer are force-carbonated in-line, but to different volumes. Beer to 2.4 atmospheres to get 2 in can, and sodas at 2.7 to get 2.5 in can.

Carbonation levels can greatly affect mouthfeel, so carbonation is often different between manufacturers, or even products, after dialling it in. It’s fun using work equipment to see what other companies carb to.